Lua's PoV
"Ladies and gentlen! With team Paragon’s overwhelming performance netting them a win, we have our semi-finalists! It will be Paragons against Variables! A revenge match of epic proportion! Who would win this ti in the rematch of the two strongest teams in this tournant!?" the caster bellowed in his characteristically loud voice.
Even though I couldn't see the match due to my disability, I could refer to what was happening in the battle by listening to the casters. Their voices, a cacophony of excitent and comntary, filled the room, painting vivid pictures of the battle.
My hearing, unfortunately, is rather sensitive to the usual boisterous style of comntary. I find a more soothing, calm, and collected voice to be preferable. One that wouldn't overwhelm , perhaps like that of Katherine, whom I consider my rival.
A mischievous grin montarily crossed my face as I entertained a thought: it would be amusing to hear her casting the match. But the thought was quickly dismissed. She would never agree to such a thing. She avoids the spotlight, and the idea of casting an entire tournant would be abhorrent to her.
Still, the thought of our inevitable clash in the finals sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine. Just thinking about our upcoming match makes my heart flutter. Our last match, even though exhilarating, was a bit too quick for my liking. Now that I know what to expect, I will savor it more this ti. I will relish the thrill of the battle - my dance with her in the grand finals.
"So, it would be Team Paragons again, huh?" I muttered, my voice a mixture of excitent and anticipation.
As the thought of facing them again settled in, a familiar warmth spread through my chest. Although fighting Katherine would be less fun, that girl, Ariadne, would be a good warm-up.
“This is good. I kinda like that girl a lot~,” I said out loud, my voice laced with a hint of joviality.
Gil, who was right next to , heard my voice. His gaze turned serious, well, more serious than it usually is, and a hint of concern clouded his features.
"Although we beat them before, I don’t expect our previous strategy to work now that they are well aware of it," he reminded , his voice a sobering contrast to my enthusiasm.
"Even better~," I replied with a playful grin, "I want to face them head-on, no more sneaky tactics."
"Would you be okay? They already know your weakness. They would surely co prepared,” Gil said in concern, his voice laced with genuine worry.
"It's fine~ Let them co~,” I replied confidently.
Gil sighed in defeat.
“It appears I am unable to dissuade you now that you’re like this. However, you must exercise extre caution when facing their ace. Her reputation as Yuusha's protégé is well-earned, and her proficiency with haste due to her ntor’s teaching should not be disregarded," he said sternly.
Yuusha, huh? That na always ca up with veterans of this ga. They said she was a legend, soone unbeatable. I would love to have a fight with her, but sadly, she was retired when I started playing this ga. It's such a sha, really, but there is nothing I can do about it.
"One more thing... You may need to use your weapon skill in this battle. Should you find yourself in a precarious position, do not hesitate," Gil cautioned.
“...I'll think about it.”
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Lucy's PoV
As we entered the comfort of our room, the haven reserved for the Paragon team, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. The noise and energy of the arena had been replaced by a quiet tranquility that felt both welcoming and grounding. I glanced at Aria, a subtle smile playing on my lips.
"That was incredible, Aria! Seriously, you played out of your mind back there! You managed to dodge Hana’s combo perfectly! You managed to win us the ga with that play!” I praised my incredible partner, my voice laced with genuine admiration.
It was well deserved, though. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular. As soone who has been with her for a long ti as her teammate and partner, longer than I can rember, I could clearly see how fast she has improved over the last couple of days. She really is amazing!
Aria, always reserved and stoic, t my praise with a small smile, a rare display of emotion that made my heart swell with pride. She never has been good with praise, preferring to let her actions speak for themselves. That’s what I like about her, though, so her reaction is more than enough for .
"We still had backup plans if I had lost there since Hana won’t be able to use her weapon skill again for the remainder of the match, so I don't think I deserve all the credit," Aria replied modestly.
“You never know. That defender is also quite good. He might be able to block Seer’s attack, so it’s not an exaggeration you won us the ga,” Blitz shared my sentint.
"Regardless, you and Seer would have won us the ga eventually. Don't think I didn't see in the notification window that you beat your opponent incredibly fast," Aria countered, likely wanting to shift the focus toward Blitz.
“It’s not a challenge, really. That guy is nowhere as good as Lua,” Blitz replied, his voice nonchalant, yet a hint of seriousness lingered in his tone.
The re ntion of her sent a chill down my spine. That girl’s a monster—a true prodigy at this ga.
Hearing her na reminded us of our next opponent, a daunting prospect that cast a shadow over the celebratory mood of our victory. Even though Novo had shown us her weakness, a vulnerability that we could potentially exploit since we have Aria, the best haste user in this tournant, and protégé of Yuusha herself, the thought of facing her Lua in our next match still sent a wave of apprehension through .
Even Aria, our ace, had lost in a 2v1 battle against Lua. Could we even win against her? The odds seed stacked against us, the fear of facing that formidable opponent gnawing at my positivity. The confidence that had filled the room monts ago after our overwhelming victory seed to have dissipated, replaced by sudden tension.
It wasn't just ; everyone was quiet. I looked at my teammates, their faces reflecting my own unease. We all knew that our next opponent would be incredibly tough to beat.
Seer, ever attuned to the shift in the room's atmosphere, suddenly butted in, his voice a calming presence amidst the looming anxiety.
"Let's take a break for now," he suggested, "We have more than half an hour before our next match, so let's use this ti to relax and get ntally ready."
We all agreed with a nod, hoping that a brief respite would allow us to refocus and strategize for the upcoming match. The prospect of facing Lua for our revenge match still lood large, but for now, we would allow ourselves a mont of peace, a chance to recharge and regain our composure.
Over the long years we played this ga together, we faced countless challenges, overca obstacles, and erged victorious, becoming even stronger than before. Hopefully, we will do the sa this ti.
I have complete trust in my team, and most importantly, I have complete faith that my partner and longti best friend will pull us through and carry us once more.
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Tactical's PoV
“They really have beco strong,” I murmured as I watched the panelists' post-analysis of the recent match.
“No thanks to you! You were too busy in your pro matches to train them,” Celeste, or should I say Calah, who was sitting right beside , teased.
“Hmph! I’m the one who taught Seer, though. If anything, your protégé has less impact than mine,” I countered.
“What did you say? I thought I heard incorrectly?” she said as she cracked her knuckles.
I gulped, fearing for my life. Although I won’t lose to her in-ga, in real life, with her bulging muscles, I don’t stand a chance.
“N-nothing. I said that you did well teaching her your grappling moves,” I placatingly said.
“Thought so,” she said jovially before continuing. “Well, if we are going to argue about whose protégé has more impact, the winner would undoubtedly be Katherine.”
“Yeah, you’re right about that; her protégé shows significant improvent,” I said expertly.
I wonder how Yuusha, or should I say Katherine, feels right now? She is probably proud and intimidated at the sa ti.
As I was chatting with Celeste, soone suddenly knocked at our door. It was a distinctive knock; it was probably a staff mber. What could they want?
I crossed the room and reached the door. I opened it to find a staff mber standing before , her expression a blend of formality and respect.
“Good morning, Mr. Bob,” a staff mber, judging by her attire, greeted, her voice polite and professional.
Looking at her, she seems young, probably in her 20s. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat braid, and her attire was a simple but elegant black uniform. A small silver badge bearing the tournant logo rested on her chest, a testant to her role in this event.
“The Tournant Director requests your presence,” she then glanced at Calah before continuing. “As well as your companion's.”
My brows furrowed as my curiosity was piqued. The Tournant Director? If I rember correctly, the tournant director at this event is Harper Stone, also the marketing director of CoA. What could a bigshot like that possibly want from us? Was this a last-minute instruction? A surprise announcent? Or perhaps sothing entirely unexpected?
I glanced at Calah, her expression mirroring my curiosity.
"It seems we are needed for sothing," I said to her, failing to hide the curiosity in my tone.
“That’s good! Beats waiting here for half an hour before the tournant continues,” she replied cheerfully, attempting to uplift the atmosphere.
She then stood up and waved at the staff mber, which she reciprocated with a friendly nod.
For my part, I nodded at the staff mber, a silent acknowledgnt for her to lead the way.
“Please follow ,” she said curtly.
We followed her down the hallway as she got the cue. Her steps were confident, her deanor professional, befitting a tournant of this caliber. She seed quite different from the staff I had previously spoken with, who was a huge die-hard fan of mine, not that I’m complaining.
As we were led to the Tournant Director’s room, I saw soone I didn’t expect to be there. Another staff mber was also guiding her, likely heading in the sa direction as ours.
The woman stood before as she was being led by the staff mber, a vision of elegance and grace, a true embodint of the Japanese ideal of Nadeshiko beauty.
Her eyes, though, were the most captivating feature. They were the color of deep rubies, shimring with an intensity that hinted at hidden depths. They held a cool, almost glacial stare, unwavering and slightly detached, conveying a sense of effortless superiority. It was a look that spoke volus of her confidence, self-assuredness, and complete indifference to the world around her.
“Gah! Murasa, why are you even here? Weren't you supposed to be practicing for the AC?” I exclaid in surprise.
"I ca here to support my sister's team…" she responded in her usual aloof tone, her voice a whisper of indifference.
I see. Now, it makes sense. The sudden increase in performance of the Sakura esports is likely due to her.
“Oh-Hoh! Looks like they are up to sothing, gathering us like this,” Calah comnted on my side.
I agree with her, though; with Murasa here, it appears the tournant organizers are planning sothing big.
As we all arrived at the destination, the staff opened the door for us, revealing a spacious, well-lit office with a nice view of the whole arena. The scent of rich mahogany and leather filled the air, a testant to the room’s luxury and prestige. Inside, the Tournant Director, Harper Stone, greeted us jovialy.
“Welco, welco,” he said, his voice a deep, resonant baritone. “Thank you for coming.”
He extended a hand towards each of us, his gesture warm and inviting.
“Please, have a seat,” he gestured towards the plush chairs arranged around a massive mahogany table.
Calah, ever the friendly one, nodded and said so pleasantries before taking a seat, her expression jovial and easygoing. Murasa, on the other hand, with her usual aloofness, accepted the gesture with a silent nod, her gaze fixed on a point beyond the Director's shoulder.
For my part, I tried to act as polite as I could. This guy’s a big shot, after all, so there's no point in getting on his bad side.
“Thank you,” I replied, trying to act as respectfully as I could.
As we settled into our chairs, I wondered to myself. Why had he summoned us to his office in the midst of the tournant? Although, seeing that Murasa is also here, I can already guess what he wants.
As if reading my thoughts, his gaze settled upon us as his smile widened a bit.
"I understand you are all eager to return to your accommodations. Therefore, I will get straight to the point. I have a proposition for you," he stated, his voice a low, alluring murmur that hinted at sothing significant.
"A proposition?" I inquired curiously.
He nodded in confirmation. "Indeed. I want you all present here to participate in the all-star event, which will be held later after the champion is crowned.”
There it is. I kind of guessed this might happen.
“…You want us to fight too?” Murasa inquired.
"To be more precise, I propose a show match against the eventual tournant champion. It would be interesting, especially for viewership, for the new blood to fight the veteran pros," he clarified.
"Moreover, please understand that there is no obligation to accept. Your refusal is perfectly acceptable, and I won’t hold it against you. We have a contingency plan in place, including strears and seasoned professionals from the Russian and Chinese streams, as well as Mr. Bogdan," he added.
Russian and Chinese veteran players, huh? It's likely LongQuan and Kreltz. They're both forr pros with a significant fanbase. I should say hi to them when I get the chance. Even though we still spar and do raids together in the ga occasionally, it's been a while since I've seen them in person, especially after they retired early.
“I’ve missed playing in tournants like this, so count in!” Calah was the first one to accept.
I could kind of understand her. Her last tournant was the first AC, so I guess she is looking forward to playing on a grand stage once again.
For , though, it would be good to form so sort of connection with the would-be champions of this tournant in order to help my recruitnt efforts. Bonds ford on the battlefield are nothing to scoff at, after all.
“Sure, count in, too. I would be glad to return your hospitality,” I agreed to participate.
Murasa, for her part, seed to be deliberating seriously. Her brow furrowed; her ruby eyes narrowed in contemplation. Her silence, a testant to her careful consideration, only added to the weight of the mont as we all waited for her response. Well, considering it’s Murasa, she would probably reject his offer since she almost never participates in events like this.
“Alright, I accept…” she said curtly.
That’s unexpected. She usually doesn't participate in events like this. However, considering her competitive nature, it is likely she intends to test the skills of the new generation of top players. Her competitive spirit is well-known, even among the pros, so I am certain she has her sights set on the aces of the remaining teams, particularly Yuusha and Lua.
The Director, his smile widening, nodded in approval at our favorable responses.
“Excellent! This is going to be an All-Stars match that the spectators will never forget!” he said, failing to hide the mirth in his voice.
I know he is exaggerating a bit, but he might be right about this being unforgettable if Katherine’s team wins the tournant.
Yuusha versus Murasa. Now, that's a fight I wouldn't want to miss.
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